Joint connection



July 14, 1931. B. SMITH I JOINT CONNECTION Filed Jan. 19, 1929 WITNESS ATTORNEY Fatented July 14, 193i UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE BURTON SMITH, F GRANTS PASS, OREGON JOINT CONNECTION This invention appertains to improvements in joint connections generally, and more particularly to a slip-on type of such connections for uniting theadjacent ends of flume sections and the like.

An object of the invention is to provide a device of the class set forth, whichis of an extremely simplified, but durable and efii cient construction and arrangement of parts,

comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, and readily and easily installed in position. Another object of the invention is to provide a joint connection as hereinbefore characteriz'ed, which is to be made from a single piece of sheet metal folded upon itself in a manner to effectively join adjacent flume or trough sections together without danger of leakage at a completed joint, and which, when properly installed, requires no support other than the connected ends of the said sections.

A further object of the invention is to provide a means which will cooperate with the improved joint connection in a manner to effectively' brace and otherwise reinforce a flume or trough in a manner to prevent spreading of the side walls thereof.

- Another object of the invention is to provide a joint of the character mentioned,

which will allow for a greatly increased amount of expansion and contraction to the parts of a completed flume or trough, without in any way affecting the efliciency of the joints thereof in preventing leakage therefrom. I

With the foregoing and other equally important objects and advantages in view, the invention resides in the certain new and useful combination, construction and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, set forth in the appended claims, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

' Figure l is a fragmentary side elevation,

partly in section, showingtwo of the completed joints in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention,

' Figure 2 is a similar view, but showing the joints in a slightly modified form,

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 33 of Figure 1,

Figure 4 is a perspective view of an assembly of one of the preferred forms of the joints, and the adjacent end joint of a flume ordtrough section to be engaged therewith, an

Figure 5 is a perspective View of a blank from which a joint connection is to be formed.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views thereof, and more particularly to Figures 1, 3, 4L- and 5, the embodiment of the invention, as shown therein by way of example, comprises generally a blank of sheet metal adapted to be folded upon itself on parallel longitudinal lines designated 10, 11, 12 and 13 to provide an upper portion let, an intermediate portion, and a lower portion 16, when folded. In this particular form of the joint connection, however, a flange 17, at the outer side of theline of fold 13 and of substantially equal length to that of the intermediate portion 15, is bent upwardly and over onto the upper side of the adjacent lower portion 16 to form a solid bead along the free edge of the latter to strengthen the same, and to otherwise in crease the grip of this portion of the joint 30 connection with the lower side'of the end of the flume or trough section to be engaged between the same and the intermediate portion 15. Similarly, aflange 18, also of a length equal to that of the intermediate por tion 15, and consequently to that of the flange 17, at the outer side of the line of fold 10, will be folded under the adjacent portion of the upper portion 1 lto form a solid-bead along the free edge of the latter to add strength thereto, and to increase its gripping efiect on the upper or inner side of the end of the. flume or trough section complemental thereto. The opposite ends of the upper and lower portions 14 and '16 are extended beyond the complemental ends of the intermediate folded portion 15 and the bead flanges 17 and 18, with the end portion 19 of the upper folded portion 1 1 passed through alined. openings 23 in,

made slightly longer than the similar portion 20 of the lower folded portion 16.

With the blank folded in the manner above indicated for the same, it will now be bent to the form of the arc defined by the curvature of the adjacent ends of the flume or trough. section-s a which are to be engaged between the felt s of the p01 ions let 15 and 16, and thereafter these ends of they fiume or trough sections a will be engaged to establish the end of one of the sections abetween the upper folded portion ii and the intermediate folded portion 15,and the end of the other of the sections a between the latter folded portion 15 and the lower folded portion 16. The opposite e o-r trough sections a are, howerer, preferably angularly bent, as at 2 1, to form shoulders which are abutted by the solid beads iio-rined by the foldedflanges 17: and 18 on the upper folded portion 1% and the lower folded: portion 16 in, a manner to further assure that no leakage n li'l: occur through the joint connection.

Wherethe fiun're trough sections a re formed with oppositely disposed and angur larly arranged side flanges Z and after ti adjacent ends of pair the sections it, beenengaged: with a joint. connectionin accordance with the, present lL'lV QRiQORLitliB' e tensions or tongues 19' and 20- at the opp-o: site' ends of the latter will be bent over onto these flanges b and one uponv the other, when securing bolts: on the hits will be these parts to rigidly fasten the same togeth and to otherwise make the tlume or trough a substantially unitary StYllQ Jll 18,lYl 1Gn:C0111: pleted l he fiumeor trough. structure, and: particularly the joints thereof may be strengthened and: otherwise @llotid" from: separating by the employment of cross bars or braces 2d therewith, w :icliare preferably in: the; form of elongated strips of sheet. metal of inverted. channel form, having the opposite side'flanges there f cut an -ty ins wardl'y from: the oppo ends of the sameto providetongue portions which are bent over the upper extensions or tongues 19 and 20 of the joint connections, and abut the outer sides and the lower edges of the angular flanges 1) formed at the opposite sides of the fl'ume or trough sections at. These tongue portions are preferably apertured for engagement by the fastenings 22 aforesaid; it is to be noted that theopening-s23, formed the flame or. trough section end are preferably of elliptical" ova-l form to allow for necessary amou t ofexpansion or contraction in thesaine and the joint connection.-

is shot-In in Figure 2, the joint. cornice-- tion depictedthereinis formed from a. blank with the bead forming. flanges 1?? and 18 eliminated therefrom, so that the upper, intermediate and lower folded portions l t, 15 and 16 closely engage the opposite sldes of the engaged ends of the fiume or trough sections a, and, as a result of this arrangement, the shoulders 21 of the latter, as employed in the first instance of the invention, are dispensed with;

In this latter form of the invention, and in the case of the flume or trough sections a not being normally provided with oppositely disposed and angularly arranged side flanges, similar flanged portions 1) are preferably bent out from the opposite edges of said sections, so that the opposite extensions on tongues 19- and 20- of the joint connection may be bent over these flanged portions, and secured thereby by means of the bolt fastenings E22.

lVithout further description, it is thought that, the features and advantages of the invention will be readily apparent to those skilled: in the art, and it Will of course be understood: that changes in the form, PIE-0?- portion and minor details of construction may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope as claimed.

Having thus fully described theinvention, what is claimed is:

1. A slip-on joint connection for sections of a fiuine or othertrough-like structure comprising a blank of sheet metal folded upon; itself to form an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion between which the opposed ends of the ad.- jacent of the said sections areto be engaged, the: free longitudinal; side" edges of the said. upper and lower portions being extended? beyond the lines, of fold of these portions with respect to: the said: intermediate portion, the outer portions of the said extended freeedges: being infolded to form solid beads adapted to: bear against the adjacent walls of the engaged ends of the said sections.

2. A slip-on joint connection for sections of a2 flume or other trough-like structure comprising a blank; of sheet metal folded upon itself to form an upper portion, an-

A, slip-son oint connection for; sections of a fiume or other trough-like structure comprising a blank of sheet metal folded upon itself to form an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion between which the opposed ends of the adj acent of the said sections areto be engaged, the free longitudinal side edges of the said upper and lower portions being extended beyond the lines of fold of these portions with respect to the said intermediate portion, the outer portions of the said extended free edges being infolded to form solid beads adapted to bear against the adjacent walls of the engaged ends of the said sections, the opposite ends of the said upper and lower portions being extended to provide tongue portions adapted to be bent over the adjacent side edges of the engaged ends of said sections.

4. A slip-on joint connection for sections of a flume or other trough-like structure comprising a blank of sheet metal folded upon itself to form an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion between which the opposed ends of the ad jacent of the said sections are to be engaged, the free longitudinal side edges of the said upper and lower portions being extended beyond the lines of fold of these portions 0 with respect to the said intermediate portion, the outer portions of the said extended free edges being infolded to form solid beads adapted to bear against the adjacent walls of the engaged ends of the said sections, the opposite ends of the said upper and lower portions being extended to provide tongue portions adapted to be bent over the adjacent side edges of the engaged ends of said sections, and means for securing said tongue portions together.

5. A slip-on joint connection for sections of a fiume or other trough-like structure comprising a blank of sheet metal folded upon itself to form an upper portion, an

5 intermediate portion and a lower portion between which the opposed ends of the adjacent of the said sections are to be engaged, the free longitudinal side edgesof the said upper and lower portions being extended beyond the lines of fold of these portions with respect to the said intermediate portion, the outer portions of the said extended free edges being infolded to form solid beads adapted to bear against the adjacentwalls of the engaged ends of the said sections, the opposite ends of the said upper and lower portions being extended to provide tongue portions adapted to be bent over the adjacent side edges of the engaged ends of said sections, and means for securing said tongue portions and said sections together.

Signed at Grants Pass in the county of Josephine and State of Oregon this 10th day of December A. D., 1928.

BURTON SMITH. 

